Gaming is one of the ways many people relax in their spare time, allowing players to enjoy themselves freely in the game world. However, too much of anything isn't good. Recently, Marco Brown, a divorce lawyer from Utah, USA, stated that "excessive gaming addiction" is a common major cause of divorce in the cases he has handled, as many husbands neglect other responsibilities due to their focus on playing games.
Marco Brown has handled over 5,000 divorce lawsuits. Recently, he shared his professional insights in a series of short videos on TikTok, stating that video game addiction has become a very common influencing factor in divorce cases, sparking heated discussion among players.
The lawyer emphasized that moderate gaming itself does not destroy marriages; the root of the conflict lies in the neglect of real-life responsibilities caused by unrestrained, long hours of play. Numerous cases show that some spouses immerse themselves in games for extended periods, leaving childcare, housework, and family communication entirely to their partners. Some stay up all night gaming, ignoring their partner's emotional needs, while others cause financial damage to the household through in-game purchases, leading to growing estrangement between couples and ultimately ending in divorce.
In many of the cases he has encountered, individuals would play games for hours on end, returning to the game immediately after brief breaks, completely neglecting their real-life family obligations. The WHO has officially listed "gaming disorder" as a mental health diagnosis, characterized by a loss of control over gaming, prioritizing gaming over other life activities, and continuing to play despite negative consequences for the family.
The report also cited past civilian statistics from the UK, indicating that in some divorce applications, about 15% of women listed their partner's excessive gaming behavior as a partial cause of the marriage breakdown. Games frequently mentioned in these cases include Fortnite, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty. However, this data comes from civilian divorce platforms and is not a rigorous academic study; it serves only as a reference for the phenomenon and does not represent the entire social situation.
The lawyer also pointed out that gaming can serve as a bond for couples to enjoy together and strengthen their relationship. The key lies in setting boundaries and balancing gaming hobbies with real-life family responsibilities. Many netizens believe that marital breakdowns are often the result of multiple conflicts accumulating over time, with gaming frequently being just the visible trigger rather than the sole underlying cause.